The Swaralaya Mohiniyattam Festival 2008 is to be held in Palakkad, Kerala from June 13 to 15 at the M D Ramanathan auditorium of CMG Music College.

This fest is being held in association with Kerala Kalamandalam.
At the opening evening, the lamp will be lit by Kalamandalam Sathyabhama, Kalamandalam Kshemavathy, Kalamandalam Leelamma, Nirmala Panikker, Kalamandalam Hymavathy, Methil Devika and Vineetha Nedungady.
Dr. K. G. Poulose, Vice-chancellor of Kerala Kalamandalam and N. N. Krishnadas, president of Swaralaya, will address the audience.
Leading dance artistes will also be honoured at this ceremony.

Here are the programme highlights -

June 13 evening - Mohiniyattam dance drama based on O.N.V’s poem 'Ujjayini' directed by Kalamandalam Leelamma. This will be followed by Mohiniyattam based on gazhals and poems directed by Kalamandalam Kshemavathy and presented by Kerala Kala Mandiram, Thrissur.
At 8.30 p.m., the Mohiniyattam dance drama is based on the poem by Kumaranasan and is presented by Kerala Kalamandalam.

On June 14, the morning session is devoted to lec-dems.
Lecture-demonstration by Kalamandalam Leelamma is on 'Lasyam in Mohiniyattam': the next lecture is by Nirmala Panikkerand it is on 'Mudras in Mohiniyattam' and after a lunch break, is the lec-dem by Vineetha Nedungady on the subject 'Visualization of Poems in Mohiniyattam'.

The evening's performances (three in total) are the following - 'Mampazham' - Mohiniyattam dance drama based on a poem by Vailoppilly. Directed and presented by Kalamandalam Leelamma.
'Kiratarjuneeyam & Kannaki' - directed and presented by Methil Devika.
'Mukkuthy & Kurathy' - Mohiniyattam presented by Natana Kaisaki Mohiniyattam Group, Natana Kairali, Irinjalakuda.Choreographed and directed by Nirmala Panikker.

On June 15, Sunday, the morning is again devoted to lectures.
It starts with a lecture-demo by Kalamandalam Hymavathy on 'Lok Dharmi in Mohiniyattam'. This is followed by a lecture-demo by Methil Devika on 'Abhinaya in Mohiniyattam'.
Later, at 2 p.m., the lecture-demo by Kalamandalam Premalatha on 'Adavukal in Mohiniyattam'.

The finale has three performances -
'Tharatt Thrayam' - Mohiniyattam directed by Kalamandalam Hymavathy presented by Kerala Kalamandalam.
'Varsha Mohini' - Mohiniyattam drama directed & presented by Vineetha Nedungady.
'Swathi Smarana' - Mohiniyattam based on Swathi Thirunal Krithis presented by Kerala Kalamandalam.

For more info, you may contact T. R. Ajayan, 'Joshila', West Yakkara, Palakkad 678 001, Kerala, India Phone: 91-491-2534962, 98477 20009